In order to achieve the emission reduction targets of the EU, an increased share of power generation from renewable energy sources (RES) is required. However, such a future energy system with a strongly fluctuating supply of RES presents challenges that need to be solved.
Like any other economic sector, transportation will have to contribute to Germany’s stringent reduction targets regarding greenhouse gases and locally active pollutants. New fuels as well as the related conversion and end use technologies are currently under discussion in regards to their potential contributions towards achieving these targets.
Producing hydrogen via electrolysis during times of high renewable power generation for subsequent use in fuel cell electric vehicles allows the coupling between the electricity and mobility sectors. However, a centralized electrolysis process is both spatially and temporally uncorrelated from the hydrogen demand at refueling stations.
On a worldwide scale, the residential sector is responsible for 17% of the CO2-emissions. In order to reach the overall goal of net zero CO2-emissions in the second half of this century, a transition of residential energy supply towards a system based on distributed energy resources offers a promising solution.
Taking into account the power requirements and process-related emissions, German industry is responsible for roughly one-third of Germany’s greenhouse gas emissions (GHG emissions). In order to considerably reduce the GHG emissions in addition to increasing the usage of renewable power in this sector, the heat supply must be made more efficient.
